‘The Unrestricted War’: Feature Film About Wuhan Outbreak Hits Canadian Theatres Next Month

“The Unrestricted War” is slated for a nationwide theatrical release in Canada on May 16, 2025. Calvin Tam

A pandemic-themed thriller about a Canadian virologist who is abducted in Beijing and forced to steal highly classified research from a national laboratory in his home country, just as a deadly new virus begins to spread in Wuhan, China, is set to hit Canadian theatres next month.

“The Unrestricted War” tells the story of Jim, a leading Canadian virologist living in Beijing who is coerced by unidentified agents into retrieving a sample of his earlier work from Winnipeg’s P4 laboratory. As the outbreak escalates, he uncovers a plot to exploit the crisis for political gain, putting millions of lives at risk.

The film will be released in Canadian theatres on May 16.

Filmed and produced in Canada, the movie was directed by Toronto-based filmmaker Yan Ma. It is inspired by true events.

“Making this film took not just talent and hard work, but courage. As a Chinese Canadian filmmaker, I’ve seen firsthand the risks involved in telling stories like this,” Ma said.

“Our team never backed down, because we knew it was a story that demanded to be told. This film doesn’t offer all the answers, but it opens a window to a reality we can’t afford to ignore.”

As the situation spirals out of control and people begin to fall ill from the contagious disease, Jim, whose wife was also abducted, finds himself at a crossroads, struggling to escape China, protect his family, and expose the truth behind the outbreak.

Ma says the film, one of the first to dramatize the COVID-19 outbreak, explores how early delays and suppressed warnings may have turned a containable crisis into a global catastrophe.

The film stars Vancouver-born Dylan Bruce, who plays Jim. With an acting career spanning nearly two decades, Bruce is known for his role as Chris Hughes on the CBS daytime drama “As the World Turns,” and as Paul Dierden in the Canadian television series “Orphan Black.”

The film also stars Nadia Hatta and Terry Chen.

Director Ma’s previous works include “Up We Soar,” a Canadian-produced documentary released in 2020 that tells the story of a 7-year-old girl in communist China who was forced to live her teenage years alone after her parents were imprisoned for their faith.

“The Unrestricted War” is being distributed by Toronto-based Sherry Media Group, whose recent releases include “Reagan” starring Dennis Quaid, the documentary “Am I Racist,” and the animated feature “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.”

Sherry Media Group’s CEO Jim Sherry calls Ma’s latest production “an unrelenting thriller that not only entertains but also provokes thoughtful discussion.”

“We are thrilled to bring Yan Ma’s visionary storytelling to audiences across Canada. I believe it will resonate deeply with audiences and spark important conversations,” Sherry said.